MLR NOLA Gold

NOLA Gold Rugby to Open its Season on Friday, February 17th

February 16, 2023 - Major League Rugby (MLR)
NOLA Gold News Release


"We want to be physical. We want to be abrasive. We want to be ruthless."

With these words, head coach Kane Thompson summed up his vision for NOLA Gold Rugby's upcoming 2023 Major League Rugby season. Thompson's squad will have its first chance to prove themselves as ruthless ruggers on Friday, February 17th, when they take on the New England Free Jacks at the Shrine on Airline.

The Gold weren't where they wanted to be last season, finishing with a 4-12 record; however, there are reasons to be optimistic for a significant turnaround this season. These reasons can be encapsulated in three words: talent, experience, and culture.

After a first full year, Coach Thompson was afforded the opportunity to acquire the necessary talent for his ideal team. This includes players from hallmark rugby nations, such as New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and Australia. One such player, Tom Florence, has already flashed his potential in full-speed competition, scoring twice against the Dallas Jackals in the team's lone preseason fixture. Florence hails from New Plymouth, New Zealand, where he played in Super Rugby, the professional league of New Zealand - arguably the highest level of domestic rugby competition on the planet.

'TFlo' isn't the only fresh New Zealander, though; fellow Kiwis Liam Hallam-Eames, Luke Campbell, and Jordan Trainor are "strong as steel, smooth as butter, and quick as lightning," per General Manager Ryan Fitzgerald. When considering the wealth of other recruits that joined the Gold in the offseason, it's easy to see how the 2023 squad is dynamic, diverse, and dangerous.

Exciting as these additions may be, talent without experience is like a recipe without instructions. Enter Dougie Fife - a vital ingredient to this tricky formula for success. Fife, a Scotland-born free agent signing, boasts one of the most extensive resumes the league has to offer. He netted 87 matches with the senior national team of Scotland from 2014 to 2018 in addition to his already-stunning 125 appearances for professional club Edinburgh. In the MLR, he compiled 29 starts for the Free Jacks across the 2021 and 2022 seasons, where he was a league-wide star fullback.

"Fife will be invaluable to our 2023 squad. His knowledge of the game and time-tested ability on the ball will not only yield important individual contributions but will also improve the guys around him. I can't wait to see what he does when the regular season gets underway and teams take the field at full strength," per Fitzgerald.

Most important of all, perhaps, is the team culture heading into the 2023 season. In many ways, the team mirrors the spirit of the city that it inhabits: passionate, vibrant, and resilient. Despite the tough season that the team endured in the 2022 season, the Gold locker room maintains a vivacity that can only be found in the Crescent City - a place that has bounced back from hardships that range from Katrina to Covid.

"It's really refreshing to come to the training pitch each day and believe that every one of your teammates would run the extra mile for you. Plus, it helps when the talent of the whole squad, from players to staff, is obvious. This team is really strong. We play our best when we're enjoying it, and I can say that all of the prep for this upcoming season has been engaging and satisfying," said team captain Cam Dolan.

With the countdown to the 2023 season nearly over, the Gold will soon have a chance to prove their hard work. Day in and day out, the team truly exhibits the official club mantra: NOLA Grit, NOLA Gold.

Looking for fun with family and friends on Friday, February 17th?

Come to the NOLA Gold Rugby game at the Shrine on Airline.

It's not just a game. It's an experience. There's free youth rugby, a pre-game DJ at the tailgate, and a live halftime performance from the Buck Town All-Stars followed by post match fireworks! It's Friday, February 17th, at 7pm. Tickets are on sale now starting at just $13.



Major League Rugby Stories from February 16, 2023


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